ARTICLES ABOUT DOWNTOWN HARTFORD BY DATE - PAGE 5

The start of summer may be a highly-anticipated break for all kids, but research shows that low-income students that do not continue educational programming during the summer suffer greater achievement losses, gain more weight, and become less likely to graduate high school than their more affluent peers. In order to fill this critical learning gap, Hartford Public Library's Summer Learning Program encourages reading and enrichment throughout the hotter months with a citywide educational events, activities, and prizes.

It's always great to hear about new dining options in downtown Hartford, particularly the kind that offer casual, quick, and delicious options. The Kitchen at the Hartford Public Library opened a few months ago, a new extension of the Billings Forge Community Works that includes sister restaurants Firebox and The Kitchen at Billings Forge. Hartford Public Library is a gorgeous building. Enter the library's vast atrium of lofted ceilings and wall of bright, natural light. The Kitchen is in the corner of the room.

By DON STACOM, dstacom@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, May 20, 2014

BRISTOL - Fighting to regain momentum and rally its supporters, Renaissance Downtowns assured a crowd of about 200 Monday that its ambitious redevelopment plan for the old mall site is still on track. In the long run, the Long Island-based company still believes it can deliver a vast complex of mid-rise apartment towers, ground floor retail shops, restaurants, possibly commercial office space and a public plaza, its executives told a public forum at Nuchie's catering hall. But private investors won't be ready to provide full financing until Renaissance can build and rent out the first part of the first phase, a roughly 100-unit apartment building, the company says.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy indicated he'll hold a signing ceremony for legislation that enables business owners to incorporate as "Type B" benefit corporations, set up for a broader social benefits beyond just profits for owners. The event, not yet scheduled, will happen even though the measure was not a separate bill, but was instead included in the 300-plus-page budget implementation bill adopted at the tail end of the legislative session May 7. Kate Emery, left the founder of reSET, and celebrate at City Steam in downtown Hartford after the measure creating benefit corporations passed at the Capitol.

Last week, University of Hartford Athletics teamed with the MetroAlliance to facilitate a "Breakfast with the Hawks" event at the Society Room in downtown Hartford. The event integrated local business leaders and Hartford student-athletes, with the goal of introducing the business community to the value of student-athletes as potential employees. There were 11 student-athletes in attendance representing men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball and women's basketball. There were also presentations by University of Hartford President Walter Harrison, Director of Athletics Pat Meiser, Men's Basketball Coach John Gallagher and Women's Basketball Coach Jennifer Rizzotti.

A group of fourth- through eighth-grade students recently spent "Take A Child to Work Day" at Shipman & Goodwin LLP's Downtown Hartford offices. The group included sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, friends and neighbors of Shipman & Goodwin attorneys and staff. A busy day of law-related activities for students included mock courtroom debates, a tour of the Capitol and visits to the U.S. Attorney's Office and U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Students also participated in a community service project to benefit the Hands On Hartford Backpack Nutrition Program, which included bringing in kid-friendly food items to be distributed in backpacks of food to area children who might not have enough to eat at home on weekends.

Plans for Hartford's revitalization have included everything from construction of affordable apartments and retail stores to the iQuilt plan, which creates a walkable and welcoming downtown region. But Connecticut Landmarks is capitalizing on a singular opportunity to strengthen Hartford by completing its multi-year renovation of the historic Amos Bull House located at 59 South Prospect Street. The remodeled building will serve as a dynamic community center and exciting educational hub for the south downtown neighborhood.

Maybe Front Street in downtown Hartford should change its name to Frontier Street on May 12. That's the day Ted's Montana Grill opens for business with its second location in Connecticut, the chain announced Tuesday. Ted's, founded in 2002 by CNN-founder Ted Turner and restaurateur George McKerrow, will occupy a 4,600-square-foot section of Front Street with a 160-seat restaurant, joining the Spotlight Theaters and Front Street Bistro and the Capitol Grille at the development. Still under construction is Infinity Music Hall, which is set to open this summer, and Nix's seafood restaurant.

By KENNETH R. GOSSELIN and MATTHEW STURDEVANT, kgosselin@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, April 23, 2014

HARTFORD - The Hartford plans to relocate 700 workers from its Simsbury offices to its headquarters on Hartford's Asylum Hill in a deal that has been in the works for months. The Hartford Financial Services Group made the announcement Wednesday. It also confirmed plans to spend at least $140 million in renovations, already underway, to existing space at its Hartford campus - room enough to absorb the 700 workers, the insurer said. The city council on Monday will consider phasing in tax increases over seven years that would result from the renovations.

Hundreds of firefighters, other first responders and volunteers from across Connecticut participated in the annual "Fight For Air Climb" on April 5 by walking and/or running up all 34 flights of City Place in downtown Hartford to raise funds for the American Lung Association. It is events like these that bring people from across Connecticut together to help each other. Hartford gets a bad rap too often and it is events like this that should be highlighted and celebrated. However, one would never know about this event, the money raised or the effort from reading The Courant, as not even an inch of print was given to this story.